Ruskin Passes

Joseph Ruskin, a character actor with half-a-dozen appearances in Star Trek episodes, has passed away.

The actor, aged eighty-nine, died of natural causes.

Born Joseph Schlafman in Haverhill, Massachusetts, Ruskin was a World War II Navy veteran. He studied drama at what is now Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Ruskin appeared in the original series The Gamesters of Triskelion (Galt); Deep Space Nine Episodes The House of Quark, and Looking for par’Mach in All the Wrong Places (Tumek), Improbable Cause; Star Trek: Voyager: Gravity; and in Star Trek: Enterprise:Broken Bow. Ruskin also had a role in Star Trek: Insurrection.

The prolific actor appearing in twenty-five films, including The Magnificent Seven and Prizzi’s Honor, and in over one hundred television shows including Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, Mission: Impossible, and many other shows in a career that spanned fifty years.

His role as Galt – Master Thrall of Triskelion will always be a memorable one. And my personal favorite. In someways, galt reminded me of another classic science fiction villain. One Ming The Merciless from Flash Gordon. In some ways, The Gamesters Of Triskelion had some Flash Gordon overtones in it.

Joseph has now rejoined his fellow Triskelion veterans – Angelique Pettyjohn, Mickey Morton, Jane Ross, and Richard Crockett in the afterlife. The Providers have bid 500 Quadloos on Heaven. Both Joseph and his remarkable talents shall be sadly missed.

You and I have had our disagreement, but today, I’m with you in this moment about Ruskin-he will be missed. Love the posting of the video.

Jon

I also add an R.I.P. for Mr. Ruskin. His turn as the genie in the “The Man in the Bottle” episode of the original Twilight Zone is still just sooo creepy :). And he was also the voice for the Kanamit in the “To Serve Man” episode (as played by Jaws himself…Richard Kiel).

As Galt, he made the “Gamesters of Triskelion” episode so much better than it would have been with a lesser actor.

Again, R.I.P. good sir.

Kang the Unbalanced

Well said, sir.
Thank you for posting the video. I’d never look good in that pink and purple, though. I’m more of a charteuse and taupe Klingon..

Blue Thunder

Glad you loved the post and the video, Nevileross. Joseph was an excellent character actor. Aside from Star Trek, he was also a guest on The Honeymooners, Mission: Impossible, The High Chapperal, and L.A. Law, just to name a few. I wish I could have obtained his autograph.